Sediment bulb for carburetors



July 28, 1953 J. E. FINDLEY 2,646,884

SEDIMENT BULB FOR CARBURETORS F'iled NOV. 10. 1948 Patented July 28, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE SEDIMENT ULB FOR, CARBURETORS J ohn'E.` Findley, Springfield, Colo. Application November 10, 1,948, Serial No. 59,206

4 Claims.

This invention relates to fuel cleaners and particularly sediment eliminators for fuel of internal combustion engines or engines of the diesel type, and in particular includes a comparatively small bulb, receptacle or vessel, positioned inthe fuel supply line at a convenient point,V preferably on the side of the engine and adjacent the carburator where it is readily accessible so that sediment may readily be removed from the bowl thereof, or wherein the bowl may readily be removed for cleaning and replacedV by the average layman.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a device for removing sediment, dirt and the like from the fuel of internal combustion and other engines without removing the device from the fuel supply line in which it is` installed.

Various types of filters, cleaners, and sediment eliminators have been used in the fuel supply lines of internal combustion and other engines and where the sediment collecting bowls are removed and replaced it is generally diiii- Icult to hold the sealing gasket in position and in some cases it is necessary to replace the gasket when the bowl is returned to the operative position. In devices where attempts have been made to clean the bowls without removing the bowls from the installation, it is necessary to use a `wire or other cleaning implement or device to agitate the sediment so that it will run from the lower end of the bowl. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a sediment collector or eliminator having a removable bowl and also having a plug with yan extended stem removably mounted inY the lower end of the bowl wherein for ordinary cleaning, it is only necessary to remove the plug vto drain the sediment from the bowl.

This invention also includes means for readily removing the bowl so that the entire dev-ice Ymay be cleaned and the bowl supporting elements are so arranged that the bowl may also be `readily replaced.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means in a sediment eliminator for fuel supply lines of engines wherein the sediment may readily be removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a removable plu-g in a sediment eliminator of en gine fuel supply lines in which a projection of the plug extends upward into sediment that may be `collected in the device wherein a drain hole provided in the lower end thereof is open as soon as the plug is removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sediment eliminator bowl for collecting dirt and other foreign matter in fuel supply lines in which the inner surfaces of the walls slope outwardly toward the upper end to permit expansion of water that may have accumulated therein in extreme temperatures and particularly as the water freezes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sediment eliminator for fuel lines of internal combustion and other engines which has a transparent bowl for collecting foreign matter in the fuel and in which the bowl may be cleaned without being removed from the supporting elements.

With these and other objects and advantages in viewy the invention embodies a sediment eliminator having a head with fuel supply and outlet connections, a transparent `bowl suspended from the underside of the head with a fine mesh screen and a gasket at the upper end of the bowl with means removably attaching the bowl to the head and with a cleaning plug removably mounted so that it extends into the lower end of the bowl to facilitate cleaning.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a Vertical vcrossfsec'tion through the sediment eliminator with parts shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a view showing a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and parts shown section;

Figure 3 is a detail looking upward toward the lower end of the `b ovi/ l of the eliminator and also with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a detail showing a cross-section through the lower end of the bowl adapted Yto be used with the eliminator illustrating amodification wherein ,a .circular vgroove is provided in the lower surface of the lower end of the bowl;

Figure 5 is Aa yplan View vof a gasket or packing disk adapted to vbe used with the bowl shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is Aa plan view of ,a support Vbar used for holding the bowl of the ydesign illustrated in Figures l and 2;

Figure '7 is a View illustrating .a further modification wherein a bayonet connection is provided atthe vupper end `of the bowl and the .cleaning plug is provided in a bushing in an opening in the 4lower end of the lbowl; Y

Figure 8 is a plan view of the bowl shown in Figure -7;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectionV through the :head u sed with the bowlshown in Figures 7 and 8; and

Figure 10 is a detail showing an exploded view of the bushing and associated parts of the device shown in Figure 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail,where in like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved sediment eliminator of this invention includes a bowl II) made of glass or other suitable transparent material, a head I I, a support bar I2 which is suspended from the head by bolts I3 and I4, and a cleaning plug I5.

The bowl I is described as being transparent, however it will be understood that a translucent material, metal, or any other suitable material may be used. As illustrated in Figure l, the upper end of the bowl is provided with an annular recess I6 in which a relatively fine mesh wire screen I1 having a binding rim I8 thereon is positioned. The upper end of the bowl is formed with a rim I9 that is positioned in a recess 25 in the undersurface of the head II with a gasket 2I positioned in the recess and sealing the upper end of the bowl.

The bowl I0 is formed with sloping inner surfaces or walls 22 that slope outwardly and upwardly so that if water should accumulate in the bowl and freeze, it would bulge upwardly to prevent breaking of the bowl.

The lower end of the bowl I0 is provided with an opening 23 and a circular -recess 24 is provided in the undersurface around the opening in which a gasket 25 is positioned which seals the opening around the stem 26 of the plug I5 and the gasket is clamped in place by the support bar I2 which is held by the thumb nuts 21 and 23 threaded on the lower ends of the bolts I3 and I4. The bolts I3 and I4 are freely held in bosses 29 and 30 on the sides of the head II with extending ends 3I and 32 on the upper ends of the bolts extending into openings in the bosses, as shown in Figure 2.

The plug I is formed with a threaded shank 33 on the end of which the stem 26 extends and the head of the plug is provided with wings 34 by which it may readily be gripped by hand. It will be understood that the head of the plug may be formed in any other manner wherein it may readily be gripped by hand or with a wrench or other tool. With the stem 25 extended upward into the interior of the bowl IB, the opening 23 will be open as soon as the plug is removed. This eliminates the necessity of sticking a wire or other device upward into the bowl to agitate sediment therein. The supporting bar I2 is provided with openings 35 and 36 through which the bolts I3 and I4 are extended, respectively, and with the lower ends of the bolts inclined inwardly,

the upper ends will be securely held in the openings of the bosses 29 and 3G of the head.

The head II is provided with an inlet connection 31 having a threaded section 38 thereon, and an outlet connection 39 in which a bushing 4Q may be threaded to hold the end of a fuel tube 4I in the connection of the head. The inlet connection 31 may be provided with a valve 42 having a packing gland 43.

With the parts arranged in this manner, the bowl IIJ is clamped to the head I I by the bolts I3 and I4 with the support bar I2 and the upper edge or rim of the bowl is positioned in the recess 2i) in the undersurface of the head. Fuel passing through the device travels downwardly through the inlet connection as indicated by the arrows and then upwardly through the screen or lter I1, passing out through the connection 39. The

device Amay remain in position while the sediment is removed by removing the plug I5 which is 4 threaded into the threaded opening 44 in the support bar I2. The plug is sealed in position by the gasket 25 and also by a gasket 45 under the head.

In the design shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lower end of a bowl 50, similar to the bowl I0, is provided with a centrally disposed opening 5I and an annular groove 52 is provided in the lower surface of the bowl and positioned concentric with the opening 5I. With a bowl of this type, a packing washer 53 having an annular rib 54 positioned thereon to correspond with the groove 52 is clamped against the undersurface of the bowl by the bar I2, or any other suitable means. The gasket 53 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 55 that is positioned to register with the opening 5 I in the bowl.

In the design illustrated in Figures 1, 8 and 9, a bowl 60 which is formed with a rim 6I around the upper end to correspond with the rim I9, is provided with sloping lugs 62 which are positioned to represent parts of screw-threads which coact with correspondingly shaped projections 53 in a recess 64 in the underside of a head 55 to secure the bowl in the recess of the head with a slight turning movement. The rim 6i of the bowl may be provided with a lter or screen similar to the device I1 and a gasket 66 is provided at the upper end to seal the bowlin the recess of the head.

In this design, the lower end of the bowl is provided with an opening 61 similar to the opening 23 and an internally threaded bushing 68 is positioned in the opening and held in place by a nut 59. Packing washers 10 and 1I are provided under the nut 69 and head 12 of the bushing, respectively. The sediment eliminator of this design is provided with a plug 13 having a threaded shank 14 and a stem 15 simil-ar to corresponding parts of the plug I5. The head of this plug may also be provided with wings, as indicated by the numeral 13, to facilitate turning by hand or gripping elements of any type may be provided thereon.

With the parts arranged as illustrated in Fgures 7 to 9, inclusive, it is only necessary to unscrew the plug 13 to remove sediment from the lower end of the bowl and when it is desired to remove the bowl for cleaning, the bowl is rotated until the lugs 52 are positioned between the pro 50 vjections 53, in which position the bowl may be dropped downwardly and separated from the head. The inner surface of this bowl and also of the bowl shown in Figure 4 converges toward the lower end similar to the inner surface 22 of the bowl I3 to prevent cracking of the bowl should water that may accumulate in the fuel therein, freeze.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A sediment eliminator comprising a head with inlet and outlet connections and having an annular recess in the lower surface, a transparent bowl having a centrally disposed opening in the lower end and with the inner surface oi the wall thereof sloping outwardly toward the upper end, a support bar positioned against the lower end of the bowl, bolts clamping the support bar to the head, and a plug threaded in the support bar and having a stem extended upwardly through the opening in the lower end of the bowl and into the lower part'of the bowl.

2. In a sediment eliminator for'fuel supply lines of internal combustion engines, the combination which comprises a cylindrical head having inlet and outlet connections therein and having an annular recess in the under surface, a support bar positioned below the head, bolts carried by opposite sides of the head extended through the ends of the said support bar and having nuts threaded on the lower ends for holding the said support bar, a collector bowl positioned below the head with the upper edge thereof in the said annular recess of the head and with the lower end spaced from the said support bar, said bowl having an opening extended through the lower end thereof, a sealing gasket positioned between the support bar and lower end of the bowl and a cleaning plug threaded in the said support bar and having a stem extended through the gasket and opening in the lower end of the said bowl.

3. In a sediment eliminator for fuel supply lines of internal combustion engines, the combination which comprises a cylindrical head having inlet and outlet connections therein and having an annular recess in the under surface, a support part positioned below the head, bolts carried by opposite sides of the head extended through the ends of the said support bar and having nuts threaded on the lower ends for holding the said support bar, a collector bowlpositioned below the head with the upper edge thereof in the said annular recess of the head and with the lower end spaced from the said support bar, said bowl having an opening extended through the lower end thereof, a cleaning plug threaded in the said support bar and having a stem extended through the opening in the lower end of the said bowl, and a sealing gasket positioned between the said support bar and bowl and around the plug for sealing the opening in the lower end of the bowl.

4. In a sediment eliminator for fuel supply lines of internal combustion engines, the combination which comprises a cylindrical head having inlet and outlet connections therein and having an annular recess in the under surface, a support bar positioned below thehead, bolts carried by opposite sides of the head extended through the ends of the said support bar and having nuts threaded on the lower ends for holding the said support bar, a collector bowl positioned below the head with the upper edge thereof in the said annular recess of the head and with the lower end spaced from the said support bar, said bowl having an opening extended through the lower end thereof, a cleaning plug threaded in the said support bar and having a stem extended through the opening in the lower end of the said bowl, and a sealing gasket positioned between the said support bar and bowl and around the plug for sealing the opening in the lower end of the bowl, said bowl having a cylindrical outer surface and a tapering inner surface with the internal diameter enlarging gradually toward the upper end.

JOHN E. FINDLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,582,859 Shepherd Apr. 27, 1926 1,597,021 Diratzonian Aug. 24, 1926 1,624,526 Bohmsack Apr. 12, 1927 1,639,170 Fell Aug. 16, 1927 1,675,378 Pearson July 3, 1928 1,705,042 Babitch Mar. 12, 1929 2,230,408 Lackey Feb. 4, 1941 Y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 467,511 Germany of 1928 

